MORGAN, GA -- A Georgia inmate admits he tried to scam Deschutes County residents, calling and telling would-be victims they were in contempt of court for missing jury duty and needed to pay a fine with a prepaid card. Jay Baron Wright was indicted in November; he pleaded guilty this week to Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud and will be sentenced at a later date.

Federal prosecutors say Wright and other inmates made the calls to Oregon residents using contraband cell phones smuggled into Calhoun State Prison. They told people they could pay the fine with a Money Pak Green Dot card, by providing the card number to the caller. The money was then transferred to other Green Dot Cards.

At least three people in Oregon fell for the scam, transferring values slightly less than $1,000 to cards used by various co-conspirators in South Carolina. Wright faces a maximum sentence of 20 years, with a potential fine up to $250,000.